Not a rosy picture for Kadiyam farmers


The nurseries are spread over 3,000 acres, and 10,000-20,000 people are dependent on them

Kadiyam (Rajahmundry): People making a beeline for this tiny village in their luxury cars, to pick their favourite varieties of creepers, decorative items, palms and indoor plants was a common sight earlier, but not anymore.

Due to the recession, the export of plants and flowers from Kadiyam and nearby villages — famous worldwide for their nurseries — has come down drastically.

These nurseries are spread over 3,000 acres, and when the going was good, 10,000-20,000 people are dependent directly or indirectly on them.

The downturn in the real estate and IT sectors has badly affected nurseries in the Kadiyam area, and farmers have been shifting to other crops in the last one or two years. With the number of orders shrinking, farmers owning small nurseries are closing them down.

Earlier, tourists made it a point to visit Kadiyam or Kaidyapu Lanka villages along with Burri Lanka, Potti Lanka and Bobbilanka, to enjoy the scenic beauty. Many of them purchased their favourite varieties of plants. Film personalities too were major buyers.

“Plants are a luxury item. IT and real estate developers were the main customers till 2008. Now, even though the government is giving free power and subsidies, labour charges have doubled from Rs.100 to Rs.200 a day for men and Rs.40 to Rs.100 for women,” says Palla Subrahmanyam of Satyanarayana Nurseries.....................Click for more

 

Source Web Page: The Hindu


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